LIRSA - London Interfaith Refugee Sponsorship Alliance

London Interfaith Refugee Sponsorship Alliance

Members of inter-faith groups stage a solidarity rally to welcome Syrian refugees to Canada last November in Toronto.

Photo: Arindambanerjee/Shutterstock

The London Interfaith Refugee Sponsorship Alliance is comprised of about 6-7 involved people representing Siloam United Church, St. Jude's Anglican church, St. George's Anglican Church, Colborne Street United Church and Riverside United Church.  This group often calls upon volunteers from these churches help is needed moving a family in or need extra drivers for events, etc.

The local congregations support LIRSA financially.  When enough funds are raised, LIRSA will sponsor a family, such as the family of 3 originally from Eritrea that was sponsored from June 2015 -June 2016.  In February 2016 a Syrian family was sponsored.  LIRSA usually tries to sponsor a family about every 2 or 3 years.  2016 was an exceptional year with sponsoring the Syrian family because the government paid for 6 months so LIRSA only had to be financially responsible for the other 6 months.

The chair of LIRSA is Marel Fielding from St. George's Anglican.  Marel has volunteered @ St. Paul's Cathedral for many, many years where she does paperwork for family members who wish to bring their family members to Canada from different parts of the world.  The Huron Diocese here in London is a sponsorship agreement holder with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.  The United Church of Canada is also a sponsorship agreement holder...but their office is in Toronto.  LIRSA always works with the Huron Anglican Diocese when we sponsor a family because Marel is our chair and is right here in London.